Vocational Counselling - TN Visa

I am currently a Career Counsellor in Vancouver.

Looking to get work in the States as a Vocational Counselor which is listed on the TN occupations

Has anyone any tips or advice for finding this kind of work based on their experiences?

What do employers of V.C's look for in the US? What skills are transferable and what skills are harder to convince US employers that I have?

I guess I'll be asking the question this time around? lol

A good lady friend of mine was offered a job in Texas under the Vocational Counselling category. She will be assessing the skills of disabled individuals and placing them into appropriate jobs. Her position is titled Career manager. Also, her BA was in Sociology and I know the required degree is psychology. I want to steer her in the right direction but am not sure in this instance because the job title is different. I'm only familiar with TN's under the specific job title. How would her company place this on her TN job letter along with her degree?

Meaning different job title and different BA degree?

Would the CBP argue about the degree and job title in this situation?

Any thoughts?

-- Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:26 pm --

Maybe lawsrlaws will have some insight to my post? I mean realistically will there be an issue?

Interesting you ask this question because my degree is as a social worker so I would presume I could only apply for a TN in that category because of my degree. Vocational Counselor always peeked my interest because there is more mobillity in terms of working with clients. I think I will stick with graphic design though. I'm more talented at that..hehe

Although I think if your friend just explains to the border officer why the career manager position fits under nafta appendix...etc there shouldnt be problems. The degree should be OK but don't quote me this is just my random opinion.

Its a tough one Dremani. I would have to talk to her myself, but if there is a reason that her sociology degree would help her in that specific area, she would probably get it. When it comes to the disabled, many factors will be taken into consideration.

Man I knew there would be a catch in between somewhere. I honestly told her if push comes to shove to have an attourney draft her letter because of the degree and job title not quite in sync with NAFTA. Her job duties however point straight in the vocational direction from what she had mentioned.

But we all know how lawyers can be at times. It's all about the mula and no regard for their client.

Maybe if her company explains thoroughly exactly her job duties, why it relates to her degree and how it fits under NAFTA, she should be fine. At least her company is not altering the job title to suit what it says in the Ooh handbook. Oh wellz...

Thanks lawsrlaws for your input anyway

And stating those facts in the job letter will have your friend do less talking during the inspection. I read up on the vocational category and its straight forward so I'm not sure where the tough part comes in. At least its not a scrutinize category like the management consultant or computer analyst. She should be fine.

Don't fool yourself, all TN's are "scrutinized", its our job.

What I meant by many factors, is that when it comes to helping the disabled, threre is more understanding and consideration that goes into the TN applicant. This is good for her, not bad.

I see what you're saying laws.. I mean as you said before, scrutiny is scrutiny but what I think Bilal meant was that Vocational Counselling is not a frowned upon category so to speak among some of the more abused categories.

My whole thing is that her position is not called Voctional Counselor, and her degree is somewhat altered from that of the degree norm. I hope her letter thoroughly explains her job duties as I read on other forums and the .gov websites that this is the essential thing CBP officers look at.

It is also a non-profit organization so maybe this will also be an advantage for her

Perhaps h1 would be more suited?

H1? Hmmm... Forgive me for my lack of knowledge on this visa but wouldn't her employer have to file a labour certification form to start the process? Or could she be exempt because she would be working for a non-profit?